THE FIRST TEST

Evening Star, Issue 19276, 15 June 1926, Page 8

THE FIRST TEST

ANOTHER WET DAY PUY AGAIN POSTPONED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 14. Rain restarted early in the morning and was still falling at 11.45. The barometer clearly regards the lest as a huge joke. After a gloriously line Sunday had raised the hopes of the cricket enthusiasts the glass went back as far as it could, and a soaking rain continued throughout the morning, converting tho ground into a morass for hours. Any attempt at cricket could only be a mud lark. The absence of wind and sun makes it impossible for the ground to recover. Notwithstanding the appalling conditions some hundreds of season-ticket holders took their seats and prepared for a long wait, while the crowd inside the locked gates numbered 2,000. — Reuter. (Received June 15, at 9.45 a.m.) There was no play, owing to the rain continuing in the afternoon. —Reuter. THE BETTER WAY PLAY TO A FINISH LONDON, Juno 13. ‘The ‘Daily Express’ features a cable from Melbourne stating that the opinion held there is that future English tours should be declined unless the tests are played to a finish, and quotes the opinion of leading amateurs that the games should extend over five days if they are not fought out. Tho county games could be adjusted to meet the change. The ‘ Express ’ gives statistics showing that nineteen out of fortyseven matches have been drawn in England/and only two out of sixty-two in Australia.

Tho ‘Express/ in an editorial, supports moro time being given _ to tho tests, and says; “Tho Australian way is far better, it is the height of nonsense to send a picked team 12,000 miles, and leave to the uncertain arbitrament of the climate the question whether the whole tour is to bo inconclusive. The requirements of the county championship ought to ho subordinated to the demands of intermit; al contests.”

‘ Sporting Life ’ agrees that the tests ought to be played to a finish. It declares that the present English arrangement is farcical, and urges that there should ho a different arrangement for the future. Tho ‘Daily Chronicle’ says: “No one will over persuade us to have unlimited test matches, indeed, the time inllucnco inspires all that is bright in tho county matches.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE DEATH KNELL SOUNDED

MORE TIME TO THE TESTS Press Association—By Tcleijraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 14. (Received June 15, at 12.50 p.m.) The recurrence of the wash-out at Nottingham has stiffened the opinion in favor of alloting more time to test matches. MacLaren said: “ The rain had sounded the death knell of three-day tests.” _ / Jessop said: “It is about time the counties were taught to think Imperially, and to withdraw their objection to releasing the men to play tho matches to a finish.” It is understood, that there is a possibility of influential circles taking up tho scheme proposed by Clem Hill, who says lie prefers tho five tests played to a finish, and thinks tho suggestion before the Imperial Conference of five tests each of four days is little better than the present arrangement, which means merely one serious game and four games of bat and ball for the sake of the gate. Hill says ho understands that the counties oppose the five being played to a finish, as it is equivalent to five county players being unavailable for ten county matches. Therefore tho most practicable plan would he to play three matches, allowing a week each., “ I hoist the Australians with their own petard,” said Carr, describing the test toss, “for I used an Australian penny, tho gift of a South African friend. It is hard hick that the first slice of luck should be ruined by typically English weather, but I shall use that penny for all the tests which T may captain.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.